text:
The Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center, formerly the 611th Air Support Group,  is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the Eleventh Air Force, stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.

The center is responsible for the program management, operation, and quality assurance of the Alaska Radar System, consisting of 17 long-range and 3 short-range radar sites; the forward operation locations at Galena Airport, King Salmon Airport, and Eareckson Air Station; project management for future radar and communications systems; and logistics staff for 11th Air Force and the Alaska NORAD Region.

From October 1, 2010, the 611th Air Support Group added eight tropical locations in the Pacific to the sites it managed around Alaska. Due to the creation of Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, the management and support of Wake Island Airfield and seven other geographically separated locations were moved from the 15th Wing at JBPHH to the 611th ASG at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

Units
The group consists of two squadrons and two flights and provides surveillance radars, Arctic infrastructure including airfields, communications and USAF airmen for homeland defense, decisive force projection, and aerospace command and control in Alaska. The Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center is part of the Eleventh Air Force.

 The 611th Air Support Squadron (611 ASUS) manages three of PACAF's largest operations and maintenance (O&M) contracts worth $82M for Eareckson Air Station, the FOL at King Salmon airport, 15 remote radar sites (including the King Salmon Long Range Radar Site nearby King Salmon airport) and three radio relay stations. The squadron provides/directs quality assurance for logistics, force protection, services, communications and facility engineering efforts at these 19 remote locations. The 611 ASUS also supports 11 AF logistics planning and contingency operations, directs delivery of  of fuel annually to all remote sites and ensures safe and reliable transportation of over 5,000 passengers and 2,700 tons of equipment and supplies annually.
 The 611th Air Communications Squadron (611 ACOMS) serves as the focal point for all command, control, communications, and computers (C4) support for ANR and 11 AF. Key functions include theater long-haul communications, radar systems communications, circuit management, network operations and configuration control. Additionally, the unit performs Meteorological Navigational (METNAV) certifications for airfields throughout the theater, as well as Defense Red Switch Network, Communications Security (COMSEC) and frequency spectrum management support. In addition to providing communications planning and programming support to the three O&M contracts, the 611 ACOMS also manages $22 million in communications requirements. The 611 ACOMS also provides direct communications support to the 611 AOC – 24/7 battle staff crisis action operation center.
 The 611th Civil Engineer Squadron (611 CES) provides engineer service functions at all 40 (active and inactive) sites throughout Alaska. The 611 CES assures environmental compliance within  of military operations air space and provides, as a command resource, specialized capability in aircraft hangar door maintenance and repair; asbestos and lead abatement; depot overhaul and certification of emergency power engine-generator sets and aircraft arresting systems; construction of Super K-Span facilities; as well as crane and hoist repair and certification. The 611 CES provides facility support to the three O&M contracts and also manages $61.8M in facility requirements.
 The Missile Defense Flight or Command Representative for Missile Defense serves as the focal point for all issues related to Ground-based Midcourse Defense in Alaska, in support of Alaska Command, Alaska NORAD Region, and 11 AF.
 The 11 AF/Alaska NORAD Region (ANR) Logistics Flight provides a core group of logisticians to support Air Force and NORAD air operations throughout the theater, including manning the ANR Battlestaff and establishing logistics readiness centers when necessary.

Alaska Radar System
 see also: Joint Surveillance System

Radar sites

 Barter Island Long Range Radar Site
 Cape Lisburne Long Range Radar Site
 Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site
 Cape Romanzof Long Range Radar Site
 Cold Bay Long Range Radar Site
 Fort Yukon Long Range Radar Site
 Indian Mountain Long Range Radar Site
 King Salmon Long Range Radar Site
 Kotzebue Long Range Radar Site
 Murphy Dome Long Range Radar Site

 Oliktok Long Range Radar Site
 Point Barrow Long Range Radar Site
 Point Lay Long Range Radar Site
 Sparrevohn Long Range Radar Site
 Tatalina Long Range Radar Site
 Tin City Long Range Radar Site
 Bullen Point Short Range Radar Site
 Point Lonely Short Range Radar Site
 Wainwright Short Range Radar Site

Military support airports
 Barter Island LRRS Airport
 Cape Lisburne LRRS Airport
 Cape Newenham LRRS Airport
 Cape Romanzof LRRS Airport
 Indian Mountain LRRS Airport
 Point Lay LRRS Airport
 Sparrevohn LRRS Airport
 Tatalina LRRS Airport
 Tin City LRRS Airport
 Wake Island Airfield

References

 11th Air Force Factsheet

Centers of the United States Air Force
Logistics units and formations of the United States Air Force
Military units and formations in Alaska
Radar networks
Military units and formations established in 2013


text:
Q: When does the capacitor charges and discharges in an astable multivibrator circuit?
I was reading this and couldn't figure out at what point and how are the capacitors getting discharged?

A: First some background.
Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJTs) are devices in which the base-emitted current, that is current flowing between base and emitter, controls the collector-emitter current. In other words when a current flows through the base of the transistor, a typically larger current flows through the collector.
While the current is variable, the voltage at the base of the transistor remains fairly constant when forward biased regardless (*) of the current, and for a silicon device is typically in the region of 0.7V.

Now lets look at the multivibrator circuit.
Lets start by assuming that Q2 is off and Q1 is on. In this configuration Out2 is pulled up to 9V, and the base of Q1 is at 0.7V (so there is 8.3V across C2). Out1 is pulled down to 0V by Q1, and C1 is charged up to 8.3V.
In this configuration the base of Q1 is being driven through R3, which allows C1 to discharge up through R2 and Q1's collector.

As it discharges, it will reach 0V, and then begin to charge up in the opposite polarity until the voltage at the base of Q2 eventually reaches 0.7V. At this point Q2 is starting to turn on as the current flows into the base.

The moment Q2 turns on, its collector is pulled down to 0V. However C2 is still charged up to 8.3V as it hasn't has a chance to discharge. Because the right hand plate has been pulled down to 0V, the left hand plate must be pulled to 8.3V below this, meaning the base of Q1 is now pulled down to -8.3V which turns it off.

Now what happens in there is no current flowing into the base of Q1, but there is a pull-up resistor to +9V - through R3. It is then through R3 that C2 begins to discharge until it reaches 0V. Once it reaches 0V, it now begins to charge again - remember it is pulled up to +9V. At the same time, C1 is now being charged up through R1 and the base of Q2 towards +9V because Q1 is now off.
Having reached 0V, C2 charges until the base of Q1 hits +0.7V again.

At this point Q1 switches on, which immediately pushes the base of Q2 down to -8.3V because of C1, switching it off. The cycle repeats.

Basically the capacitors are charged and discharged by the two resistors. When a transistor is off, the corresponding capacitor charges up through the pull-up resistor on the collector. When the transistor switches on, it generates a negative voltage on the base side of the corresponding capacitor, which allows it to be discharged through the pull-up resistor on the base.
There is a nice simulation of the Astable Multivibrator in the examples of the Falstad Java Circuit Simulator.

(*) Technically it is variable, but only over a small range, similar to a diodes forward voltage

A: Since the transistors invert from base to collector and the two form a positive feedback loop with gain > 1.
When TR2 transistor is ON ( Active low) TR1 is OFF and a delay time formed by RC pullup delay with R3C2  until Vbe1 reaches 0.65V  then TR1 turns ON and C1 turns OFF TR2 and the process repeats thru the complementary parts.
This clock is called ASTABLE meaning not stable and constantly flip-flops.  The delays of R3C2 and R1C2 rising from Vce(sat)~0.1V to 0.65V (Vbe(sat) which is less swing than that of 60% or so of V+ where RC=T is defined.
The easier version uses a Schmitt trigger 'HC14

simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab

A: The basic principle is that you can't instantly change the voltage across the plates of a capacitor.
Like many oscillators this astable requires a slight imbalance in component values. Due to this imbalance when power is applied one of the transistors will turn on faster than the other. Let's say this is Q1.
Initially both capacitors will have 0V across their plates.

Diagram 1. Initially both plates of C1 will be 0V. C2 would like to have both plates at 9V but be the base-emitter junction clamps the base of Q1 at 0.7V (approx.). Which means Q1 is ON and Q2 is OFF.
Diagram 2. The plate of C1 is then charged up through R2 (it hopes to get to 9v) until it reaches 0.7V.
Diagram 3.  At this point Q2 is turned ON. The voltage at the collector of Q2 drops rapidly (from 9V to 0V). This falling edge pulls the base of Q1 to -8.3V  (+0.7 - 9V = -8.3V). At the same time the collector of Q1 rises from 0V to +9V (rising edge). C1 would like the other plate to rise from 0.7V to 9.7V (a 9V step) but it is clamped by the base-emitter of Q2 to 0.7V. This positive feedback has the effect of increasing the switching action of Q2 by momentarily over driving the base.
On a practical note:
R3 now tries to charge C2 to a final voltage of 9V from - 8.3V.
Diagram 4. When the base of Q1 reaches 0.7V it is turned ON and the voltage at its collector falls from 9V to 0V causing the voltage across C1 to go from 0.7V to -8.3V. This turns OFF Q2 causing its collector voltage to rise from 0V to 9V. The other plate of C2 would like to rise to 9.7V but is clamped by Q1 base-emitter. This gives an extra kick of current into the base of Q1 turning it on fully.
From this point on the transistors are alternately turned on and off (4-3-4-3-4 and so on).
On a practical note:
The basic principle of the capacitor is never violated in the astable, the charging and discharging happens very rapidly and we tend to ignore the little edge glitches at the bases as they are not part of the astable timing.
The base-emitter junctions of a BJT have a fairly low breakdown voltage in the order of about 6V. This means (for an NPN type) that it will breakdown if the base is taken more than 6V negative to the emitter and acts like a 6V zener diode.  This modifies the way the astable functions (although it still works) so at higher operating voltages (e.g. 9V) we don't always get the negative value we think we should get.
(1) It runs a little bit faster than the calculation of RC timings would suggest (not usually a problem).
(2) Eventually the emitter of the transistors will be damaged by pitting and they may stop working.
By putting diodes in series with the bases this effect can be easily eliminated.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
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Testing Water For PFAS & PCB Contamination
PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances) are man-made chemical hazards that almost every American has the potential to be exposed to via consumer products, persistence in the environment, and more. The waste generated from cleaning up environmental contamination, known as remediation waste, often contains PCBs and PFAS, which are harmful to humans.
Luckily, as people encounter PCBs and PFAS in the world, the most common routes of exposure and harmful health effects are becoming better understood while testing methods and regulations toward reducing exposure become more reliable. To get a better understanding of the effects of PCBs and PFAs, let's take a closer look at what they are and how to test for them.
PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals that are often found in fire-fighting foams, industrial work centers, landfills, and wastewater treatment centers. PFAS were initially developed in the 1930s for the primary purpose of creating nonstick and waterproof coatings. Due to the historical demand for the production of PFAS, there are currently more than "3,000 synthetic chemicals" now classified as PFAS.
For PFAS, such exposure may include contaminated soil, contaminated drinking water, eating fish sourced from contaminated water, and any food packaged in materials that contain PFAS. Due to this exposure, PFAS have been found to cause adverse health outcomes in humans. These outcomes include negative effects on reproductive health, liver and kidney damage, and immunological effects.
In light of how hazardous PFAS can be, in January of 2021 the EPA delivered the latest results on the official PFAS action plan. Substantial progress has been made since the creation of this initiative and the EPA has promised that they will continue to build on this research.
What Are PCBs?
PCBs are man-made chemicals with a history of being used as lubricants, plasticizers, and heat-transfer fluids for electrical devices and machinery due to their high resistance and tolerance to pressure and heat. PCB remediation waste is waste that contains PCBs, usually from a spill, release, or other unsanctioned disposal of PCBs.
Polychlorinated biphenyls were once included for hundreds of industrial/commercial applications and can still be found contaminating soil, gravel, concrete, and buildings. Due to their harmful effects on people's health, the use of PCBs was banned in 1979, but many pre-1979 products that contain the chemicals are still used today.
Both the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the Environmental Protection Agency classify PCBs as a likely carcinogen. Long-term PCB research in humans has found heightened rates of a variety of different cancers, including melanomas, liver cancer, gallbladder cancer, gastrointestinal tract cancer, brain cancer, and more. It's hard to overstate how risky exposure to PCBs through remediation waste can be. Luckily, with improved testing methods, it's becoming increasingly possible to mitigate and even prevent unnecessary exposure to PCBs and PFAS.
At Suburban Testing Labs, we can help companies run evaluations for drinking water and wastewater PFAS contamination by providing analytical testing for these contaminants. All types of industries trust our expertise for water sampling and analysis, including for engineering companies, contract operators, consulting firms, and others. Beyond analysis, we can also provide all of the supporting services you may need for lab testing, such as automatic sample collection.
What's more, some water treatment technologies have been found to reduce PFAS from drinking water, especially Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), which are the most studied of all PFAS. Those technologies include activated carbon adsorption, ion exchange resins, and high-pressure membranes. These technologies can be utilized in drinking water treatment facilities, in water systems in hospitals or individual buildings, or even in homes at the point-of-entry, where water enters the home, or the point-of-use, such as in a kitchen sink or a shower.
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To learn more about PFAS and PCBs testing, or to get a quotation or proposal, feel free to email our team of experts for information on how we can be your partner for success. For more specific information on our sampling procedures or to address any other questions or concerns you may have don't hesitate to contact us online or by phone!
Suburban Testing Labs is a NELAP Accredited environmental testing lab that operates in a 25,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility in Reading, PA. Founded in 1963, we are a family owned an operated, independent lab that understand the needs of our clients.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Summer fun at Georgia's State Parks
Karen Kirkpatrick
Georgia State Parks has come up with a series of fun, affordable, educational programs to help kids — and their parents — have a ball this summer. The Junior Ranger program offers the opportunity for kids ages 6-12 to earn badges either at their own pace or at day camp in several parks.
Junior Ranger activities include identifying trees or wildlife, hiking, swimming, learning about history and camping. Check out a few of the Junior Ranger events below or visit the Georgia State Parks website for a complete list.
Chattahoochee Bend State Park, Newnan
The adventure-filled three-day camp includes archery, hiking, campfire building, science experiments and survival skills. Registration required. Please call 770-254-7271 for details.
June 13-15, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., ages 7-9 ; June 27-29, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., ages 10-12
Florence Marina State Park, Omaha
Explore the wonderful world of being a park ranger. Learn how to identify different plant and animal species, go on hikes and boat rides, learn wilderness skills, and more. Please call 229-838-4706 for details.
June 12-15, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Skidaway Island State Park, Savannah
A week of hikes, crafts and games focused on the natural and cultural heritage of Georgia. Please call 912-598-2300 for additional details.
The weeks of May 29, June 12, 26, and July 10, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., ages 6-11
Seminole State Park, Donalsonville
Activities include canoeing, hiking, aquatic exploration and crafts. Register in advance. Please call 229-861-3137 for details.
The weeks of June 5, July 10 and August 7, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., ages 7-14
Magnolia Springs State Park, Millen
During this three-day camp, activities include nature hikes, archery, geocaching, alligators, fishing, archaeology, the splash pad, and more. Registration is required. Please call 478-982-1660 for details.
June 13-15 and June 27-29, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Fort Yargo State Park, Winder
This three-day camp will feature a multitude of activities from hiking to archery and kids will experience what it's like to be a State Park Junior Ranger. Registration required. Please call 770-867-3489 for details.
June 7-9 and June 21-23, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., ages 6-12
Laura S. Walker, Waycross
Activities include outdoor skills, trail walks, birding, and more. Registration is required. Please call 912-287-4900 for details.
June 20-22, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., ages 6-12
Vogel State Park, Blairsville
Learn how to identify different plant and animal species, go on hikes and boat rides and learn how to be safe in the wilderness. Please call 706-745-2628 for details.
June 17-18, July 15-16 and August 5-6, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites
Categories: Blog, Events (Blog)
Georgia Trend Daily - Jan. 31, 2023
Last call: Nominations for the Georgia 500
Catching Up With … Teya Ryan


The ISRS invite industry sponsors to help us provide the best possible service to our members.
Corporate sponsorship includes many benefits to increase your company's visibility and integrate it more fully into the radiosurgery community.
Allowing each company to define its own level of contribution and support to the ISRS.
If you are interested in becoming a corporate member of the ISRS, thus supporting International Radiosurgery and enjoying benefits related to this membership, please complete and send the Corporate Subscription Form.


text:
Police & Sheriff Calls
Home›Courts›Police & Sheriff Calls›Police & Sheriff Calls for March 3-5
Police & Sheriff Calls for March 3-5
Aggressive Parker: At 3:27 p.m. complaint was made to police regarding a person who allegedly parked their truck too "aggressively" by a sidewalk in downtown Wis. Rapids. Police found no such issue.
Ice Chucker: At 4:32 p.m. a call was placed to dispatch from the 500 block of Wisconsin St. concerning a man throwing ice and snow into the middle of the road.
Idle Nap: At 5:46 a.m. a call was made from the 1100 block of 6th St. South to report a vehicle that had been running for over two hours. A woman was taking a nap inside.
Fast & Furious: At 4:17 p.m. a complaint was made from a driver by 17th Ave. South to report another driver has sped through a stop sign, pulled along side her and made obscene gestures.
Underage: At 10:28 p.m. a call was made from a tavern downtown to report three underage persons that refused to leave when asked to.
Fight Club: A call was made late in front of a tavern on the 100 block of 2nd St. North concerning a fight in progress outside. Police soon arrived to break it up and citations were issued.
Hyper Kids: At 6:09 p.m. a report was made in the area of 16th St. North and Norton regarding kids running through people's yards.
Slow Down: At 6:51 p.m. a report was made of an erratic driver at excessive speeds in the area of Baker Dr. and State Highway 54.
Long Black Coat: A call was made from the 600 block of Wisconsin St. to report a woman wearing a long black coat walking in the area. The caller was suspicious of this particular woman.
Riverkings Advance to National Championship in Boston
Bill Seeks to Take Public Notices Out ...
Police & Sheriff Calls, May 11-12
CourtsPolice & Sheriff Calls
Police & Sheriff Calls, July 2-5
Police & Sheriff CallsTop Stories
Rapids PD Seeks Shoplifter
Search of Rudolph Home Uncovers Guns, Drugs
NEW: Sheriff's Dept. Seeking Bobcat Thief
NEW: Police Seeking Saturday Shooting Suspect


A marathon over a tough terrain of Kurgan republican complex, in Petrozavodsk, was organized by Run Start school on May 12 with support of the Ministry of Sports of the Republic of Karelia. Participants who crossed the mountain terrain were awarded unique medals made of shungite.
It is important to note that it is not the first sports program organized by Run Start, which exists only for 3 years. One of the examples is a semi-marathon LumiKarjala, route length of which was 21.1 km. This semi-marathon took place in a forest in the domain of Karelian Santa Clause, Talvi Ukko, during winter time and was visited by 300 runners from Karelia, Saint Petersburg, Moscow, Tver, Ekaterinburg, Lipezk, China, and Finland. Another set of events is "ScandiKarjala. Legends of White Nights:" festivals of Scandinavian walk. The next upcoming festival is on June 30; it will take place at an astonishing natural terrain of Ruskeala mountain park.


text:
Magma supply dynamics at Westdahl volcano, Alaska, modeled from satellite radar interferometry
By: Z. Lu, Timothy Masterlark, D. Dzurisin, Russ Rykhus, and C. Wicks Jr.
A group of satellite radar interferograms that span the time period from 1991 to 2000 shows that Westdahl volcano, Alaska, deflated during its 1991-1992 eruption and is reinflating at a rate that could produce another eruption within the next several years. The rates of inflation and deflation are approximated by exponential decay functions having time constants of about 6 years and a few days, respectively. This behavior is consistent with a deep, constant-pressure magma source connected to a shallow reservoir by a magma-filled conduit. An elastic deformation model indicates that the reservoir is located about 6 km below sea level and beneath Westdahl Peak. We propose that the magma flow rate through the conduit is governed by the pressure gradient between the deep source and the reservoir. The pressure gradient, and hence the flow rate, are greatest immediately after eruptions. Pressurization of the reservoir decreases both the pressure gradient and the flow rate, but eventually the reservoir ruptures and an eruption or intrusion ensues. The eruption rate is controlled partly by the pressure gradient between the reservoir and surface, and therefore it, too, decreases with time. When the supply of eruptible magma is exhausted, the eruption stops, the reservoir begins to repressurize at a high rate, and the cycle repeats. This model might also be appropriate for other frequently active volcanoes with stable magma sources and relatively simple magma storage systems.
Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center
e2354: 9 p.


text:
import { NgModule } from '@angular/core';
import { Routes, RouterModule } from '@angular/router';

// Import Containers
import {
  FullLayout,
  SimpleLayout
} from './containers';

export const routes: Routes = [
  {
    path: '',
    redirectTo: 'dashboard',
    pathMatch: 'full',
  },
  {
    path: '',
    component: FullLayout,
    data: {
      title: 'Home'
    },
    children: [
      {
        path: 'dashboard',
        loadChildren: './views/dashboard/dashboard.module#DashboardModule'
      },
      {
        path: 'components',
        loadChildren: './views/components/components.module#ComponentsModule'
      },
      {
        path: 'icons',
        loadChildren: './views/icons/icons.module#IconsModule'
      },
      {
        path: 'widgets',
        loadChildren: './views/widgets/widgets.module#WidgetsModule'
      },
      {
        path: 'charts',
        loadChildren: './views/chartjs/chartjs.module#ChartJSModule'
      }
    ]
  },
  {
    path: 'pages',
    component: SimpleLayout,
    data: {
      title: 'Pages'
    },
    children: [
      {
        path: '',
        loadChildren: './views/pages/pages.module#PagesModule',
      }
    ]
  }
];

@NgModule({
  imports: [ RouterModule.forRoot(routes) ],
  exports: [ RouterModule ]
})
export class AppRoutingModule {}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


The stitch is known as irasos oltes or writing stitch. I think we know it as button stitch, Traditionally the pattern was drawn onto the cloth usually by the "writing woman" of the village who specialised in drawing these patterns. It was then embroidered by another woman , usually for the dowry chest of herself or another female of the family.
Excellent condition. One of the down drapes is slighty faded or paler than the others.


text:
Q: How can I display one type of formatting in GWT application? Is it possible to force a GWT app to use a specific locale formatting in other locales?
I've tried following both ways.
// 1
private final static DateTimeFormat timeFormat1 = DateTimeFormat.getFormat("h:mm aa");

// 2
private final static DateTimeFormat timeFormat2 = DateTimeFormat.getFormat(PredefinedFormat.TIME_SHORT);

public static void convertToShortTimeFormat(Date d) {
    if (d != null) {
        GWT.log(timeFormat1.format(d));  // displays localized format "10:30 vorm" in German
        GWT.log(timeFormat2.format(d));  // displays "19:30" for example
    }
}

For example, in North America we use time formatting like 12:34 PM, but other countries AM/PM may become its countries language. Is there any way to always display 12-hour notation?

A: You can use your own format patterns instead of relying on built-in formats. This way it will always display dates, for example, according to the pattern you chose and regardless of the locale.

A: Just use the DateTimeFormat class. The best way would be to create a static reference to the date formatter that you will use everywhere in your code. For example:
public static final DateTimeFormat DATE_FORMATTER = DateTimeFormat.getFormat("MM/dd/yyyy");

public static final DateTimeFormat TIME_FORMATTER = DateTimeFormat.getFormat("hh:mm a");


text:
SATURDAY, January 23-30, 2016
Visibility: Mostly clear with some haze after a few foggy days.
Wind: On the 23rd and 24th, mild. On the 30th, a strong crosswind, 15G22kts
Altitudes: Tow heights only.
Time Aloft: 30 minutes on the 24th.
Max Lift:1-2 kts.
Temperature: Cool, in the 60's
Comment: Moved operations to Coalinga
Tow pilot: Jim Rickey, Frank Owen.
They did it!!!
What, you say, did they do? Something that hasn't been done in my time in the club (Since 1992).
They, Cal Poly students Troy Wollman and Neiman Walker recovered a lost rope that had separated shortly after takeoff. Most of the time, we never recover a rope that has separated in flight. If we're over a plowed field, the rope just buries itself straight in and we never find it. Once in awhile, we'll find a small end of it snagged on the barbed wire fence. But mostly we never retrieve either the rope or the expensive hardware that is more difficult to replace. The story follows after the pictures taken on Saturday the 23rd.
Sergio and Alex landing on runway 1 at Coalinga.
Bringing the glider back to runway 12/30 for continuing launches.
Jim Rickey inspecting the steel skid plate, worn too badly to continue operations on the 23rd.
Jenn Bauman ready to launch on runway 30 at Coalinga.
Jenn doing good work staying aloft for half an hour in very weak lift.
Happy to have completed the flight but now ready to go aloft by herself.
Jesse McClintock helping Jenn get launched for her solo flight at Coalinga.
Frank Owen and Jesse waiting for Jim Rickey to get into position in the tow plane.
Nice wide open spaces off the end of runway 30 as Jenn Bauman prepares her glider.
Jenn had a nice flight all alone and it made her feel a lot better than just before launch.
Off she goes behind Jim Rickey in the tow plane.
Off the runway and setting up a crab to account for the right cross wind on runway 30 at Coalinga.
Jennifer fueling the towplane at the end of flight operations on the 23rd of January.
Because of the worn skidplate we weren't sure if any operations could take place on Sunday. But they did find a spare plate in the clubhouse and Jim Rickey installed it. So, operations were on for the next day, Sunday.
In the meantime, Troy Wollman and Neiman Walker sent a text telling us that they had examined the Go-Pro video and determined that they could estimate rather closely, where the rope might have landed after breaking from the tow plane.
Here's his email:
After analyzing footage from the rope break flight, Neiman and I believe that we have determined the location of the rope. The dark green shroud is where it most likely fell. The lighter areas are possible as well, although less likely. The video shows the rope "snapping back" from the towplane towards the glider. This was likely sufficient to release the rope. We placed a pin on the map directly below where the glider was flying at this moment. GPS coordinates included. Maybe a few people want to walk over with phones or a GPS and see if we are correct?
36°10'34.78"N
120°17'46.83"W
Troy Wollman
An overview of the area showing the possible location in relation to the Coalinga airport.
The dark green is the best estimate of where the rope fell. They found it in that exact area.
And there it is folks!!! Fortunately it didn't bury itself in soft earth, to be lost forever.
I'm not sure but whoever this is must have fainted at the surprise of finding the rope.
On Sat, Jan 30, 2016 at 6:56 PM, Troy Wollman <troywoll@gmail.com> wrote:
We were able to recover the broken rope from Coalinga today. We usually record our flights using GoPro cameras. On this particular flight, Neiman was wearing a camera with a headstrap. We accidentally tipped the camera too far forward, which was serendipitous for this flight, because it gave us a clear view of the rope break. Notice in the video that there are two distinct sounds; the rope breaking and the release opening.
https://youtu.be/1ZT4TlcXLZ4
We found the rope about 300 ft from where we expected it to be. At least we can keep the weak link and hardware.
Meanwhile back at the Avenal assembly hangar, Jan Zanutto, Martin Caskey, and Jim Rickey were busy getting Big Bird back on its wheel. As Jan mentioned, it's getting so much closer to flying again and we are all waiting anxiously for that to happen. Thanks to all those who worked on the project.
The main wheel is just about to touch down for the first time in a long time.
It's beginning to look like a glider again, a beautifully restored glider at that.
Not sure whether glider operations will continue at Coalinga or head back to Avenal. As expected, it's a lot easier to conduct glider operations at Avenal, safer, and less wear and tear on the glider. Maybe the weekend of February 6-7 we'll move back to Avenal.
Harold Gallagher
SATURDAY, February 13, 2016.
SATURDAY, January 16, 2016 Written by Andrew Palmer


Since its launch in 2013, the OpenSky Network has quickly evolved to a large-scale air traffic control data collection and sharing platform. With now more than 700 sensors operated by volunteers across the globe and more than 2000 users, the OpenSky Network is today greatly contributing towards the vision of a more efficient, secure and reliable operation of the airspace by providing open accessibility of air traffic control data to the public. Following the successful workshops in the last years, we are proud to announce the fifth instance of the OpenSky workshop. This two-day event will take place in Kaiserslautern (Germany) in November 2017. The event is open to all contributors of the network (sensor operators, users, system developers and administrators, and researchers) as well as to any interested party that wishes to get involved to the OpenSky Network in the future. The workshop will serve as a forum to discuss new ideas, the network itself, and research activities around the OpenSky Network. Participants are invited to actively contribute to the program by presenting their projects at the workshop. As in the last years, there will be many opportunities to get to know the community during the social activities around the workshop program.
Mauro Leonardi, University of Rome "Tor Vergata"
The workshop invites presentations from the community. The workshop is interested in presentations that can foster discussions and provide input for future development and research around OpenSky. Potential presenters are free to choose any topic for their presentations, but the presentations should be related to the OpenSky network in a wider sense.
We recommand the Hotel B&B which is located very close to the train station of Kaiserslautern (3 minutes walking distance). Mention the code "OpenSky Workshop" when you book to profit from a special rate.


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Bailey and Mentor winners of the 2015 Sharelle McMahon Medal
Geva Mentor and Karyn Bailey have been named joint winners of the 2015 Sharelle McMahon Medal at the RACV Club in Melbourne tonight.
Mentor, 30, has been a consistent performer for the Vixens since moving to the club in 2011 winning the Most Valuable Player award on three separate occasions, in 2012, 2014 and 2015, whilst also being the runner-up in 2013.
The English international played through the 2015 season with a niggling knee injury but showed her class with her reliable defence for the Melbourne side.
The first individual accolade for Bailey, 28, after a season in which she was critical to pulling the Vixens young attacking lineup into gear, shooting 384 goals from 444 attempts at 86.5%.
Tied at 39 votes, the goal keeper and goal shooter were the first ever joint recipients of the Sharelle McMahon Medal.
Tegan Philip and Madi Robinson were joint runners up on 35 votes each, an incredible achievement for Robinson given she missed the second half of the season due to injury.
Retiring captain Bianca Chatfield received the Team Spirit Award and the Excellence in Sport and Life Award for her contribution in 2015. A stalwart of the game, Chatfield retired from netball with 111 ANZ Championship appearances over eight seasons, with 133 games also to her name played with the Melbourne Phoenix.
How to prepare for the SSN documentary...
Vixens bringing it home to fans at Fed...
Moloney caps off stellar season with S...
Ballarat Battle cancelled


Here amongst the green valleys of Valpolicella it is easy to feel in touch with nature. The views from this small agriturismo are marvellous and creates the relaxed atmosphere to discover the emotions of country life with its colours and flavours. Even if positioned in green surroundings it is only a few steps to the small town of Fumane.
The mild Mediterranean climate not only creates the great wines of this area, but allows visitors to enjoy the area all year around. The agriturismo has a very pleasant restaurant with a terrace for warm days, a relaxed swimming pool area and private parking.
Costa degli Ulivi offers comfortable, spacious and bright rooms in the warm atmosphere of an old rural house, completely restored respecting it's original structure. All rooms have private bathroom. The larger rooms are under the ceiling giving a special intimate sensation and takes even 3 and 4 persons.
Costa Calda by the hotel.
Distances: Milan Malpensa Apt, 195 km, Milan Linate Apt, 170 km, Verona Apt, 18 km.
Golfcourse: Verona Golf Club 20 km, Golf Ca' degli Ulivi 23 km.
Contact us for the best offer!
Accommodation in shared double room with buffet breakfast for 4 nights, 3 winetastings and 2 dinners at hotel with wines.
Accommodation in shared double room with buffet breakfast for 7 nights, 3 winetastings and 2 dinners at hotel with wines.
Just 20 minutes driving to Lake Garda or to Verona. During the summer seasons from end of June until end of August the Opera Festivals of Arena di Verona.


text:
Q: databasedotcom error on no record found Just started using databasedotcom gem and now stuck.
When trying to find a record in Salesforce by Id, if the id/record doesn't exist, it produces the following error:
"Provided external ID field does not exist or is not accessible:"
If the Id does exist I am able to continue with my page fine.
Here's my code:
def search
@account = Account.find(params[:id])

if @account.Id
  redirect_to new_user_registration_path(:id => @account.Id)
elsif params[:id].to_s.present? and @account.nil?
  flash[:alert] = "Couldn't find that one.  Please check and re-submit your number."
  redirect_to search_path
end

end
How can I overcome this?
Thank you.

A: Changed the code to the following and it works fine now - thank you Danny Burkes.  It captures the exception and routes accordingly.
def search
begin
@account = Account.find(params[:id])

if @account.Id
  redirect_to new_user_registration_path(:id => @account.Id)
end
rescue Exception => e
  flash[:alert] = "Couldn't find that one.  Please check and re-submit your number."
  redirect_to search_path
end

end


text:
Christian Faur
"As a full time working faculty member at Denison University and a full time gallery artist …the hours I have in a week to myself are extremely limited. I feel like the days spent in Prague and Pilsen were worth the time spent away from my daily schedule. To see and understand the Czech artists and burgeoning art scene have left an impression, and hopefully will create opportunities for my students in the future."
In September of 2016, artist and college professor Christian Faur traveled to Prague at the invitation of Ambassador Schapiro. The Ambassador and his wife Tamar Neuberger selected Faur's work Parrish (2012), for the Art in Embassies exhibition at their Residence. Parrish consists of four panels of hand cast encaustic crayons. Faur begins his artistic process with the deconstruction of a single image into its most basic elements of color, form, and resolution. Using traditional artists' pigments and an encaustic medium, Faur mixes and casts the exact colors and quantities needed for each of the crayons used in a particular work. The highly manipulated image is then reconstructed with these individually cast wax "pixels." The finished works vary from photo-realistic landscapes and portraits to completely abstracted forms.
The four-day program started with a visit to Vaclav Hollar Art College, where Faur received a tour of the school that allowed him to see the students' work, after which he presented a short talk in a classroom setting. In addition to attending a reception at the Residence, where Faur was able to meet with artists, curators, and other representatives from the art world in Prague, the artist travelled to other locations to conduct lectures and presentations about his unique work. This included a fifty minute lecture for about a hundred students and faculty members at the Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art in Pilsen, where he was welcomed by Dean Josef Mistera and the director of the Art Camp Summer School, Lenka Kodytkova.
Faur observed that "… for me, what was extremely exciting was to see the art programs being developed in a country and a city where freedom of expression had been suppressed during the Russian occupation. The type of work that artists are currently making in the Czech Republic speaks to this history while at the same time having work that focuses on the future." As a professor at Denison, Faur is working on creating connections between art programs at Denison and the art programs in the Czech Republic "… with the hope that a student exchange or visit might take place in the future." Currently, Faur is working with the Ladislav Sutnar University of Design and Art to host a traveling poster exhibition Ladislav Sutnar – Europe, Culture in January of 2017 at the contemporary art gallery on the Denison University campus, with the intent that this exhibition "… will give students and faculty on our campus a bit of a window into the wonderful work going on in Ladislav Sutnar (in Pilsen) and help to start students thinking about the Czech Republic as a place to visit and see interesting art." On the last day of the program, Faur was able to visit a series of galleries in Prague, which included Hunt Kastner Gallery, Nau Gallery and Meet Factory, where he had a chance to meet with local curators and artists.
Image 05_faurAmbassador Schapiro and Christian Faur at the Arts in Embassies unveiling reception.
Image 07_faurClose up of Faur's Parrish.
Image 06_faurAt the Arts in Embassies unveiling reception, Christian Faur's artwork is admired by photographer Eva Heyd and consultant Kristyna Machova.
Image 04_faurAt the Arts in Embassies unveiling reception. Christian Faur speaking, Eugen Kukla, photographer (next to Christian's Parrish, and Kim Luttrell's artwork The True Sign of Intelligence Is Not Knowledge But Imagination)
Image 03_faurAt the Arts in Embassies unveiling reception, featuring Ambassador Schapiro, his wife Tamar Newberger, and Eugen Kukla, photographer.
Christian Faur lecturing at Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen.Christian Faur lecturing at Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen.
Image 01_faurChristian Faur at at Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen with Executive Director of ArtCamp Summer School Lenka Kodýtková and Deputy Dean for Academic Affairs and Head of Fine Arts Jindřich Lukavský.
EXHIBITIONS // MEDIA


New York's governor ordered buildings to be illuminated in pink lights on January 22, in celebration of state law he had just signed eliminating most limitations on abortion.
Legislators in Virginia and Vermont are ready to follow suit with radically anti-life policies.
Think it couldn't happen in New Hampshire?
The grim fact is that it already has.
New Hampshire is one of the most abortion-friendly states in the country.
Learn the facts – and then learn how you can help to turn the tide!
Abortions are legal, unrestricted, and unregulated throughout all 40 weeks of pregnancy in New Hampshire. As recently as 2017 and 2018, legislators rejected bills that would have provided protection for viable preborn children.
New Hampshire has a parental notification statute. When a minor seeks abortion, she needs to notify a parent or guardian, or else use a "judicial bypass" in which a judge determines she is mature enough to make her own decision. The law calls for notification, not consent. New Hampshire bans the barbaric abortion method known as partial-birth abortion or dilation-&-extraction, in which a child is delivered partway before being killed. This ban was passed in 2012. As of early 2019, New Hampshire policy limits the use of Medicaid funds for abortion. New Hampshire adopted a fetal homicide statute in 2017, allowing prosecutors the option of filing homicide charges against a person whose bad actions cause the death of a preborn child against the mother's will. While not an abortion law, it was bitterly opposed by abortion advocates.
No one knows, and that includes state lawmakers. New Hampshire does not have an abortion statistics law, despite the fact that the federal Centers for Disease Control attempts to collect abortion data. Forty-seven other states manage to collect and report such data, while protecting the anonymity and privacy of individual women obtaining abortions. New Hampshire public health officials have no reliable data on the age of women seeking abortion, the stage of pregnancy at which abortions are performed, and whether women are experiencing abortion complications.
No one knows, since public health authorities do not collect any data on abortions. There is no requirement that abortion providers in New Hampshire have any medical training or certification whatsoever.
Do New Hampshire public health authorities inspect abortion facilities?
Consider running for local or state office. ELECTIONS MATTER!


List Residence Porto Cervo. Consult below our list of residences in Porto Cervo. We do offer several special offers, discounts and reviews to better choose between the different residences: after having done an online estimate for your preferred residence in Porto Cervo, you can book online, by email, phone or Skype.
Discover our residences in Porto Cervo, on the heart of Costa Smeralda. This is the most exclusive tourist destination of Sardinia. Here rise popular villas with their distinctive "smeraldino" style, surrounded by greenery and overlooking an amazing bay attended by lot of yachts. Central alleys and the renowned piazzetta are the paradise for all those who love big brands shopping. In Porto Cervo you can find different typologies of apartments, it depends on dimensions and the distance from the sea. If you travel in company of your family you can choose among our resorts suitable for children.
If you searched for Self catering near Porto Cervo, we suggest the following Hotel.
If you searched for Self catering near Porto Cervo, we suggest the following Resorts.
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If you searched for Self catering near Porto Cervo, we suggest the following Packages Hotel+Ferry.
If you searched for Self catering near Porto Cervo, we suggest the following Holiday Rentals.
If you searched for Self catering near Porto Cervo, we suggest the following Villas.


text:
Home / iPhone
The iPhone 13 is coming: How big of a leap will it be, really?
With the official reveal just days away, we take a sober look at what to expect.
By Jason Cross
Staff Writer, Macworld	 Sep 9, 2021 3:45 am PDT
If you're on a site like Macworld.com, reading articles about an unannounced iPhone in advance of its September 14 launch, it's safe to say you're a pretty big fan. Or at least, you're dialed-in to the world of smartphones enough to know one Geekbench score from the next. For you, the improvements in each iPhone are probably notable, even exceptional. But are they really that impactful? Let's take a look at the most significant four rumored iPhone 13 upgrades—performance, cameras, ProMotion, and always-on display—and consider whether they will really matter for the average iPhone user.
Performance and the A15 SoC
We took a closer look at what to expect from the A15 processor earlier this year. Still made with a 5nm manufacturing process, we can expect most of the improvements to the A15 to come from architectural changes and simply making the chip bigger. Which often means a little hotter and more power-hungry. (Apple is expected to increase the battery capacity to offset this.)
The short story here is that the A15 is probably going to be somewhere around 10-15 percent faster than the A14 present in the iPhone 12. If Apple finally moves to LPDDR5 memory, then specific tasks that are bottlenecked by memory bandwidth should be significantly faster than that. And the company will almost certainly lean hard into image processing and neural network performance.
Faster is always better, and we have no reason to believe that the A15 will be anything other than the fastest smartphone processor anywhere. The only thing is, there's just nothing that really taxes the A14. Or for that matter, the A13. Your average person isn't going to notice a significant difference in the things they do most (social media, web browsing, email, Messages, and so on) between a two-year-old iPhone and the one Apple releases this year. Without some spectacular new gotta-have-it software feature that just doesn't run on a lesser SoC, the A15 won't be a game-changer for your average iPhone user. We'll probably only really appreciate the speed bump three years down the line when we notice that iOS 18 runs a lot better on an iPhone 13 than an iPhone 12.
Will the A15 chip run circles around the A14? Probably not.
ProMotion 120Hz display
While we probably won't notice the improved performance of the A15 anywhere outside of a benchmark chart, we will almost certainly feel the improved smoothness and responsiveness of a 120Hz ProMotion display. If the iPad Pro is anything to go by, it makes a difference you can certainly feel when you scroll through your Twitter or Instagram feed.
Unfortunately, this feature is rumored to be limited to the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max, which seriously limits its reach. And while 120Hz displays definitely make things feel smoother, the touch responsiveness of the iPhone is already so good you're not likely to notice a huge change there. It's great for reducing Apple Pencil latency on the iPad Pro, but that's not a consideration here unless Apple also announces iPhone support for its stylus.
So for those "Pro" buyers, this is an upgrade that even an average person might not notice. You'll probably hear things from iPhone 12 Pro buyers like "it's so much faster," because smoother scrolling and interface animations have the effect of making things seem faster. But in reality, unless you're comparing them side by side, it probably won't be a huge deal.
Camera improvements
We know the iPhone 13 will have improvements to the camera (every iPhone does!), but it's not entirely clear what they may be. Some rumors state that the entire iPhone 13 lineup will get the LiDAR sensor, rather than just the Pro models. That makes AR apps run a little better and portrait mode work in the dark, but it's really not a big deal. The camera array in leaked schematics shows a larger camera area with bigger cutouts for the lenses, which suggests a new lens array and possibly new larger sensors underneath. Some say autofocus is coming to the UltraWide camera, and Portrait Mode will be available while shooting video.
The iPhone 13's camera will look like the iPhone 12's camera, but will it take noticeably better photos?
Jason Cross/IDG
All nice upgrades, but none of these are game-changers. This is the steady march of smartphone progress we've come to expect, and for your average everyday consumer, the difference between the quality of a "pull out your iPhone real quick and snap a pic for the Insta" on the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 will not be huge. Professionals who pixel-peep at edge cases are probably going to see significantly improved performance in the most challenging scenarios, but daily snapshotting is likely to be pretty similar.
The next big advances in iPhone photography will probably come from very high-resolution sensors (48 megapixels vs. the 12 megapixels we're used to) and new designs like periscope lenses that could allow for extreme optical telephoto. Those sorts of features have been rumored for the iPhone 14 next year, not the iPhone 13.
It's rumored that the iPhone 13 will feature an always-on display somewhat similar to that on the Apple Watch. It's unclear how this would work exactly, and what information would be shown, but this has huge potential. This is the sort of feature we hope to see on all iPhone 13 models, not just the Pro models, because it can change the way we use our iPhones. All that time they sit flat on a desk or table…it's not difficult to pick up your iPhone to check the time or see if you have important notifications, but it's far better not to have to!
Android phones have had this feature for years, with various implementations. At its most basic, simply being able to glance at the time without even reaching for your phone to turn it on is always useful, especially in a dark room, but there are so many other ways this could change the way we use our iPhones. We can only hope that if the iPhone 13 does have an always-on display, it's on all the phones (not just the Pro models), and it's somewhat customizable. If Apple does it right, an always-on display could be the marquee feature of the iPhone 13.
An always-on display could be one of the best reasons to buy an iPhone 13.
EverythingApplePro
An iPhone 12s in all but name
Shortly after the release of the iPhone 12, there were rumors that this year's model would be the iPhone 12s. That doesn't seem likely (Apple sort of retired the "S" branding back with the iPhone XS), but this does appear to be the same sort of upgrade we used to get with the "S" model iPhones. It's got a new faster processor and a couple of new features, but the overall design hasn't changed and everything else is the same but a little better.
Sure, there's supposed to be a smaller notch and that's nice, but it's still a notch. Yeah, the cameras will be better, but it doesn't appear we're in for the kind of step-change we saw when Apple added a whole second or third camera module to the back. Face ID is said to still be the only biometric authentication, despite long-running rumors of Apple developing improved under-display fingerprint technology.
It's enticing to think that Apple may still surprise us with some really important new feature that didn't leak out to the rumor mill. It's possible, but these days it seems to happen so rarely. Usually, we have a really good idea of what the new iPhone will bring before Apple unveils it and it's unlikely the iPhone 13 launch is any different.
There's nothing wrong with an iPhone that is, broadly speaking, basically the same as last year's model but a bit better. Most people don't upgrade every year, so they're going to be floored by the improvement over their iPhone XS or XR. And it's not like Apple is way behind its competitors and has to make huge leaps to catch up. Apple can't reinvent the wheel every year and we shouldn't expect them to, nor should we only consider the new iPhone to be good if it's full of radical changes.
I have written professionally about technology for my entire adult professional life - over 20 years. I like to figure out how complicated technology works and explain it in a way anyone can understand.


Mountain Goat software makes a great online planning poker application at PlanningPoker.com (funny enough). After registering for free you can create games and invite your team members to participate and cast votes for User Stories.
We used this for our distributed estimation sessions but entering all the stories was bit laborious. There is a great option when you create the game to import stories in a comma delimited format. When you are using Team Foundation Server you can create a query to export selected fields for your User Stories and add them all at once while creating a new game.
Create a TFS query with the fields you want to show in the planning poker game like the one below.
Open the query in Excel.
Then save the spreadsheet as a CSV.
Then open the file in Notepad.
Copy the column header rows and the rows with the User Story data. When you create a new game on PlanningPoker.com there is a field where you can paste the rows to import them.
Then when you start the game you can add each story.
Then your team can estimate each story.
Now if only they had an option to have it automatically update TFS with the result. Enjoy!
Thanks - exactly what I needed. In addition to your suggestion I've added an IE accelerator so you can go directly from the TFS id in poker planning to the description in TFS. That makes the process even more smooth.
Peter - Have you published that accelerator somewhere? I'd love to try it out.
You cannot use exactly the same accelerator as it contain a link to your TFS server. I can send/upload the source files to you so you can modify it to your own TFS server.


The glow of fluorescent lights, sticky primary-colored Formica, coffee in a glass carafe, Pepto Bismol-colored boxes and a bakery case full of glazed, twisted, frosted doughnuts. There's something nostalgic about a doughnut shop, whether it's a big chain, a trendy newcomer with a fancy font and gluten-free doughnuts, or a mom-and-pop shop in a strip mall.
The shop: The D.C.-based company opened its first Los Angeles shop downtown in April. Co-founders Jeff Halpern and Elliot Spaisman teamed with Art Levitt (founding president and CEO of Fandango and president of Hard Rock Cafe) for the new location. Astro is known for its less-than-traditional doughnuts, classic fried chicken and doughnut fried chicken sandwiches.
Must-order doughnut: The crème brûlée or the PB&J doughnuts (both $3.50). The crème brûlée is a yeast-raised doughnut filled with pastry cream, glazed with vanilla, dusted with sugar then torched until the top resembles the best part of a crème brûlée. The PB&J doughnut is filled with strawberry jam, topped with a peanut butter glaze and chopped, toasted peanuts.
Coffee: Astro pours Corsica coffee from La Colombe Coffee Roasters and nitro cold brew and cold brew from LA Mill Coffee.
516 W 6th St., Los Angeles, (213) 622-7876, astrodoughnuts.com.
The shop: Chef-owner Jason Harley closed his fried chicken restaurant Mabel's, and replaced it with Birdies, a doughnut and fried chicken shop, in March. The display case is full of creative takes on doughnuts, such as the horchata twist and the cinnamon toast crunch doughnut, which actually has a texture that resembles cereal in milk. And in the back, they're making fried chicken sandwiches and wings.
Must-order doughnut: The lemon thyme pistachio ($3.25). It's a fluffy yeast-raised doughnut with a tart lemon glaze, crumbled pistachios and thyme. The flavor combination is unexpected and well, refreshing, with a vibrant citrus flavor punctuated by hints of thyme.
Coffee: All of the drinks at the coffee bar are made with Intelligentsia coffee.
Open 24 hours Friday and Saturday. 314 W Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, (213) 536-5714, birdiesla.com.
The shop: In a strip mall on Topanga Canyon Boulevard in Woodland Hills, the shop has been around since the '50s, but current owner Teresa Ngo took over in 2002. It's so popular with locals that Ngo often runs out of doughnuts well before the daily noon closing time. Ngo's father Hugh, along with another baker, make the doughnuts. They have the classics, as well as more creative varieties including mango and Tajin and a Cookie Monster doughnut with blue frosting and mini chocolate chip cookies.
Must-order doughnut: The black-and-white doughnut ($1.30). Ngo says she created the yeast-raised doughnut to satisfy customers who couldn't decide between chocolate or vanilla glaze. She uses six different types of chocolate to create the chocolate portion of the doughnut, which is haphazardly topped with a zigzag of chocolate and vanilla glazes. It's basically a way-better version of the classic black-and-white cookie.
Coffee: Ngo serves a medium roast from Farmer Brothers.
4884 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills, (818) 884-4456, www.blinkiesdonuts.com.
The shop: The doughnut shop was started in Portland, Ore., in 2012 and opened its first California location on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice in 2015. Another opened in Manhattan Beach in January. The shop is known for its brioche-style doughnuts, which are fried in rice oil.
Must-order doughnut: After you get over the Mimosa doughnut (made with sparkling wine and an orange-scented glaze), try the hard apple cider fritter ($4.50). It's made with Granny Smith apples, a glaze made with hard cider, and has a distinct bite from coriander and cinnamon.
Coffee: Both the Venice and Manhattan Beach locations serve Stumptown hot and cold brew coffee.
The shop: Bob Tusquellas, who also owns Tusquellas Seafood in the Original Farmers Market, bought the shop in 1970. Bob's is a popular stop at the Original Farmers Market, known for plain cake doughnuts so popular they usually run out in the morning. Regulars may have also noticed over the years that the doughnuts on display rarely match up with the labels below them.
Must-order doughnut: The chocolate glazed ($1.55). It's a classic yeast-raised doughnut done well. The dough is soft with a bit of chew, and the chocolate glaze on top is just sweet enough, with a rich chocolate flavor.
Coffee: All of the coffee drinks are made with Pasquini coffee. You can also order a hot chocolate.
6333 W. 3rd St. #450, Los Angeles, (323) 933-8929, www.bobscoffeeanddoughnuts.com.
The shop: The family-owned shop has been on the corner of 3rd Street and New Hampshire Avenue in Los Angeles for more than 30 years, and it serves some of the most colorful doughnuts in the city. This is where you will find doughnuts topped with pastel marshmallows and breakfast cereal, rainbow candies and purple glaze.
Must-order doughnut: It's almost impossible not to order the panda doughnut ($3). The yeast-raisted doughnut is topped with a white chocolate glaze and bits of Oreo cookie strategically placed to make the doughnut resemble a panda. Yes, it's highly Instagrammable. It's also an excellent doughnut.
Coffee: House coffee and espresso are from Espresso Republic. You can also order strawberry lemonade and smoothies.
Open 24 hours. 3540 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, (213) 385-3318, www.cadonuts.com.
The shop: The team behind the Golden State restaurant on Fairfax Avenue opened this doughnut and coffee shop in 2014, just up the street. It's known as much for its breakfast burritos as it is for its doughnuts, made by pastry chef Nicole Rucker. You'll want to come early for a couple of reasons: Real estate is tight, so you'll need to snag a seat by the window. They also run out of doughnuts early on.
Must-order doughnut: The cornflake doughnut ($3.50). For those who tend to be indecisive when it comes to breakfast, this yeast-raised doughnut combines a classic glazed doughnut with crunchy cornflakes cereal and sweet syrup. Rucker's doughnut has an almost supernatural fluffiness to it that bounces back when you take a bite.
Coffee: Coffee bar drinks are made with Stumptown coffee or Ruby Colorful Coffees. There's also kombucha on draft.
440 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 424-7485, www.cofaxcoffee.com.
The shop: This Eagle Rock doughnut shop has been open since 1994. Its specialty: wacky, colorful, themed doughnuts. Over the years the shop has made doughnuts look like "Minions," Elmo and "Star Wars" characters, plus cats, Spiderman, rainbows, Thanksgiving turkeys, the Grinch and bears. It even has a doughnut pie, shaped and decorated to look like a pepperoni pizza.
Must-try doughnut: Order the doughnut characters to Instagram, but don't miss the custard and berries croissant doughnut ($3.50). It's the shop's version of Dominique Ansel's famous Cronut doughnut-croissant hybrid pastry, only the one at Colorado Donuts is shaped like a square, split open and used to sandwich sweet custard and berries.
Coffee: The hot coffee is from Lingle Bros. You can also order ice-blended drinks and boba milk tea.
#14, 1578 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock, (323) 340-1962.
The shop: Cambodian immigrant Jenny Bu has owned the Burbank doughnut shop, located just west of the Costco, for 32 years. It's a casual, no-frills shop in a strip mall where regardless of the time of day you'll likely find an elderly man sitting at a table, finishing his coffee, holding a scratcher over a paper plate of doughnut crumbs.
Must-try doughnut: This shop makes some of the most consistently good doughnuts in L.A. County. Maple bar, chocolate glaze, glazed twist, cake with rainbow sprinkles? They are all solid. But its best doughnut may be the buttermilk bar ($1.30). The glaze creates a crunchy crust on top of the doughnut, and the dough has that familiar buttermilk tang, only more pronounced and addictive than any other shop's version. It's worth calling ahead to see when you can snag a warm one.
Coffee: Dad's is pouring Farmer Bros. coffee. You can also order smoothies and "freeze" drinks (ice-blended drinks) with boba.
2501 W. Victory Blvd., Burbank, (818) 841-1910.
The shop: This may be a chain, but owners Lynn and Now Lay have a uniquely L.A. story. They fled Cambodia's Khmer Rouge in 1980, settled in Los Angeles with extended family and opened the Los Feliz doughnut shop on the corner of Hillhurst and Franklin avenues six years later. It's a true neighborhood doughnut shop with all the classic doughnuts, croissant sandwiches and bagels, pink boxes, saran-wrapped muffins in the display case and regulars who sit at the red booths for hours.
Must-try doughnut: The buttermilk bar (90 cents). This is as good as they come, with a dense, rich buttermilk flavor and a sweet, crunchy glaze.
Coffee: The coffee bar drinks are made with Gaviña Coffee.
1908 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, (323) 665-5043.
The shop: If you go in the morning (go in the morning), the case is packed tightly with every doughnut flavor you can imagine, including a section devoted to purple ube doughnuts. Lee and Kong Tao, two Khmer refugees, opened the shop in 1980. They passed down the shop to their son and daughter, Sean and Mayly, in 2005. This was one of the first L.A. doughnut shops to do its own versions of the Cronut: The one at DK's is called the Double Decker O-Nuts. The shop also serves breakfast burritos, sandwiches and bagels.
Must-try doughnut: The ube doughnut ($2.25). It's a crumb cake doughnut made with ube purple yam, which gives it a distinct color and starchy texture. It's topped with purple cream cheese and purple crumbs. It's less sweet than your average cake doughnut but with an almost savory quality from the ube. It goes especially well with a cup of coffee.
Coffee: DK's serves Gaviña Coffee, Vietnamese iced coffee and smoothies.
1614 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, (310) 829-2512, www.dksdonuts.com.
The shop: Located in a weathered shopping center on Sunset Boulevard, this Silver Lake doughnut shop serves 100% vegan, organic doughnuts. The company, started by San Francisco resident Josh Levine in 2007, has outlets in San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley. He opened the Los Angeles location in 2015.
Must-try doughnut: The Philz Coffee doughnut ($4.50). The cake doughnut looks more like a blob than a doughnut, a haphazardly-shaped piece of fried dough that's on the heavier side, with a dense, stick-to-the-roof-of-your-mouth texture. The glaze on top is made with Philz coffee and offers a strong, bitter coffee flavor.
Coffee: The drinks from the vegan coffee bar are made with McLaughlin Coffee.
2609 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, (213) 788-7549, www.vegandonut.farm.
The shop: Musician and record producer Mark Trombino opened the shop in 2013 on a stretch of York Boulevard a couple of doors down from the Hermosillo bar in Highland Park. All of the doughnuts are vegan, including the "bacon" 182 doughnut topped with toasted coconut. It has a long list of pre-made creations, or you can order a DIY doughnut and pick your own fillings and toppings, such as fresh fruit, jams, non-dairy ice cream and candy.
Must-order doughnuts: The Strawberry So Far ($2.50) or the Angry Samoa ($3). The first is a raised doughnut covered in a strawberry glaze with a strawberry on top. The latter is a take on the popular Girl Scouts cookie, made with a vanilla cake doughnut. The bottom is dipped in chocolate and the top is covered in caramel, toasted coconut and chocolate stripes. Yes, it's way better than the cookie.
Coffee: Coffee and espresso from Sightglass Coffee. Non-vegan milks are available for coffee drinks.
5107 York Blvd., Los Angeles, (213) 995-6191, donutfriend.com.
The shop: This architectural landmark in La Puente was built in 1968 and features two fiberglass doughnuts with a driveway through the middle. You can walk up to the side window and order your doughnuts, but it's more fun to drive through.
Must-order doughnuts: The Texas doughnut ($6.50) and the doughnut holes ($1.50). The Texas doughnut is the size of a frisbee and big enough to feed at least four people. It's also a good doughnut, made with a light yeasted dough and just the right amount of glaze. And can you really drive through a giant doughnut called the Donut Hole and not order the doughnut holes? They come in a paper boat, completely covered in a sugary glaze and rainbow sprinkles.
Coffee: The shop pours Lingle Bros. coffee.
15300 Amar Road, La Puente, (626) 968-2912.
The shop: Owner Les Goodwin opened his shop in the Spring Arcade building last spring. It's a small doughnut shop offering the traditional glazed, twists and fritters. It's also one of the few shops that did not attempt to re-create the Cronut, and that's a good thing.
Must-try doughnut: The blueberry cake doughnut ($1.24). If you're looking for the doughnut version of a blueberry muffin, this isn't it. This is a well-made, classic cake doughnut dunked in a blueberry glaze that actually tastes like the fruit.
Coffee: The shop brews Lingle Bros. Coffee.
541 S. Spring St. #130, Los Angeles, (213) 713-2345, www.downtowndonutsla.com.
The shop: Jim Nakano opened the shop, on a strip of old Route 66 in Glendora, in 1972. Is it worth a drive to a city you may have never been to, east of another city you've never visited? Yes. When peaches and strawberries are in season, and Nakano is turning out his now-famous fruit-filled doughnuts, lines can snake around the building and into the parking lot.
Must-order doughnut: Depending on when you go, the peach-filled or the strawberry-filled doughnut ($4.25). It's a glazed doughnut with no middle hole, sliced almost in half to create a pocket for the fruit, like a Pac-Man mouth full of strawberry or peach. The fruit is sweetened with a sugar glaze and packed in so that it's just about to spill out of the doughnut.
Coffee: The Donut Man is brewing Farmer Bros. coffee.
Open 24 hours. 915 E. Route 66, Glendora, (626) 335-9111, www.thedonutmanca.com.
The shop: Pastry chef Waylynn Lucas (an alum of Jose Andres' Bazaar and Patina) and her partner, voice actor Nancy Truman, opened the West 3rd Street shop in 2011. All of the doughnuts are baked rather than fried, and the flavors aren't exactly traditional. Think chorizo and cheddar; and blueberry Earl Grey.
Must-try doughnut: The strawberry buttermilk doughnut ($3.50). It's the lightest cake doughnut in the city, with a real delicacy to the dough. It's dipped in a strawberry glaze that's just sweet enough, and actually tastes of fresh strawberries.
Coffee: Drinks at the coffee bar are made with LA Mill coffee.
8104 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, (323) 592-3075, fonuts.com.
The shop: Travis Flood and Matt Fong, the duo behind Pappas Artisanal restaurant in La Verne, opened a doughnut and biscuits shop in the Claremont Village in April. In addition to an ever-changing selection of doughnuts (S'mores, salted caramel, blueberry jam with toasted coconut, to name a few), you can also order more than a dozen biscuit sandwiches filled with everything from chicken fried steak to barbecue pork with basil slaw.
Must-try doughnut: The S'mores doughnut ($3.50). The yeast-raised doughnut is both light and chewy with a rich chocolate glaze, graham cracker crumbs and a toasted, gooey marshmallow on top.
Coffee: The coffee and espresso drinks are made with Cafe Moto beans.
353 W. Bonita Ave., Claremont, (909) 399-0991, grizzbysdonuts.com.
The shop: Owner Sami Anz opened the shop in 2013, in a shopping center right where Franklin Avenue hits the 101 Freeway in Hollywood. It's a no-frills shop with a handful of places to sit inside and a small counter displaying the day's doughnuts — a small selection of classic cake and yeast flavors.
Must-try doughnuts: The Boston creme ($1.75) or the croissant-style doughnut ($3.75). Bottom line, you want a doughnut with pastry cream inside. The Boston creme is a yeast-raised doughnut full of sweet cream, and the top of the doughnut is dunked in rich chocolate frosting. The croissant-style is the shop's take on the Cronut, with seemingly endless, sugary layers of dough and pastry cream in the middle.
Coffee: Picacho Coffee Roasters from New Mexico provides the beans for the shop.
6211 Franklin Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 462-2344, www.kettleglazed.com.
The shop: This is the all-occasion doughnut shop, the place you come to when you want to pick up a dozen doughnuts for your co-workers, the place you stumble into at the end of the night, the place you come to after a psychic reading just two doors down. Who is Michelle? The guy working behind the counter thinks there isn't one, and that the name is a result of switching a couple of letters around on the original Winchell's sign. Either way, you didn't come for the story, you came for the doughnuts, and the Korean pop music often playing inside.
Must-try doughnuts: The red velvet crumb (80 cents). The sangria-colored cake doughnut is a three-bite-sized take on red velvet cake. Covered in red velvet crumbs, the doughnut is on the sweet side, but there's a lingering hint of bitter chocolate.
Coffee: The shop serves Lingle Bros. coffee.
4862 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, East Hollywood, (323) 662-9581.
The shop: More a stand than a shop, Monarch Donuts is located between a Korean tofu house and Taza Coffee on Huntington Drive, just down the street from the Santa Anita race track. This is is not a flashy designer doughnut shop. The stand opens at 4 a.m. and officially closes at noon, but runs out of doughnuts long before then. You walk up to the counter, order your doughnuts, then eat them elsewhere.
Must-try doughnut: The apple fritter ($2). Its exterior is a glossy landscape of hardened icing over hills of sweet dough. Every inch is covered in prized crunchy nubs. When you bite into the center, you find the pillowy soft dough flecked with cinnamon and barely sweet. And there are generous bits of tender apple throughout the middle.
Coffee: Monarch serves Farmer Bros. coffee.
15 Huntington Drive, Arcadia, (626) 446-5740.
The shop: Walking into the shop, located in a center near where the 405 and 10 freeways meet, is like taking a step back in time, maybe into a dentist's office from the '50s. Blinds cover the windows. Black stools serve as seats for the few tables inside. But most importantly, owners Ralph and Celia Primo, who bought the shop in 1956, are still making the doughnuts and greeting people when they walk in.
Must-try doughnut: The buttermilk bar ($1.75). Crunchy edges surround soft dough spiked with buttermilk. And when the doughnuts are warm, the glaze melts into all those crunchy edges, creating a truly addictive doughnut.
Coffee: You can order Stumptown coffee at the shop.
2918 Sawtelle Blvd., Los Angeles, (310) 478-6930, www.primosdonuts.com.
The shop: You've probably seen it in countless movies and TV shows: a giant beige doughnut hovering over the corner of where La Cienega and Manchester boulevards meet. It opened in 1953 and has been an L.A. landmark ever since. This is not a fancy doughnut shop. You walk up to the counter, order your doughnuts, and most likely eat them in the car.
Must-order doughnut: The plain glazed ($1). This could easily be the best glazed doughnut in the city. It's lighter and airier than your average yeast-raised doughnut, and it pulls apart into a cloud of fluffy dough. The glaze that surrounds it melts as soon as it hits your tongue.
Coffee: The shop serves Farmer John coffee.
Open 24 hours. 805 W. Manchester Blvd., Inglewood, (310) 645-4707, randysdonuts.com.
The shops: People have been lining up for the sweet (huckleberry, Madagascar vanilla glazed) and savory (basil eggs Benedict) doughnuts at Sidecar since the original shop opened in Costa Mesa in 2012. Married owners Sumter and Chi-Lin Pendergrast and chef Brooke Desprez opened a second location in Santa Monica in 2015. Both locations come with lines, but don't fret when you see one. It moves quickly and the shop continues to make fresh doughnuts hourly.
Must-order doughnut: The huckleberry ($4.25). It's made with Oregon huckleberry that gives the actual doughnut and the accompanying glaze a distinct purple color. Imagine the most luscious slice of cake you've ever had. This is that cake, in doughnut form, with a sweet berry glaze studded with crushed huckleberries.
Coffee: Both Sidecar locations serve Stumptown Coffee Roasters.
The shop: Tucked into the corner of a strip mall on 3rd Street just west of La Brea Avenue, this shop may not look like much, but this is a doughnut wonderland. You do not come here for the plain glaze (although it is excellent) or a chocolate twist. You come and wait in line for the shop's version of the Cronut, called the SKronut, which is one of the best in town. Or you sit at one of the tables and take photos of the Nutella doughnut, and all the doughnuts decorated to look like emojis.
Must-order doughnut: The dulce de leche ($2.75). It's a yeast-raised doughnut covered in powdered sugar with a drizzle of caramel on top. And in the middle — completely filling the doughnut hole — is a swirl of very good caramel.
Coffee: Hot and cold coffee drinks as well as smoothies, Thai tea and milk tea with boba.
Open 24 hours. 5850 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, (323) 935-2409.
The shop: Opened by third-generation baker Stan Berman, Stan's Doughnuts has been around since 1965, deep into Bruin territory, in the middle of Westwood Village. The shop shares a storefront with a Flame Broiler. Just ignore the teriyaki bowls to the left and turn your attention to the glowing display of doughnuts. Stan's is known for its jelly-filled, custard-filled and peanut butter-filled doughnuts, but the shop makes all the classics, as well as pretzel-shaped doughnuts and cinnamon rolls.
Must-order doughnut: The peanut butter banana pocket ($3.50). It appears to be a round, unbroken glazed doughnut, but when you bite into the middle, you'll find peanut butter and slices of banana.
Coffee: There's hot coffee, but that's about it. If you want something flavored or espresso, head to the nearby Espresso Profeta.
10948 Weyburn Ave., Los Angeles, (310) 208-8660, www.stansdoughnuts.com.
The shop: The shop, its exterior painted the pale pink color of most doughnut boxes, opened in the former Donut Time space at the corner of Highland Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard in May. It's actor Danny Trejo's coffee and doughnut shop, launched shortly after his other restaurants, Trejo's Tacos and Trejo's Cantina (along with a Trejo's truck). And in case you forget who owns the place, the Santa Monica Boulevard side of the shop features the actor's distinct mug. Pastry chef Dianne Crame, who used to work at Boa Steakhouse, is making the not-so-traditional doughnuts.
Must-try doughnuts: The Horchata ($3) or the Nacho ($3). For horchata fans, Crame turns the classic cinnamon-spiced drink into pastry cream, then pipes it into a yeast-raised doughnut. It's finished with a horchata glaze and a sprinkle of cinnamon. The Nacho is a savory doughnut studded with cheddar cheese, jalapeños and chives. And yes, it's good for breakfast.
Coffee: City Bean makes a special blend for the shop, used in hot and iced coffee drinks.
6785 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 462-4600, www.trejosdonuts.com.
The shop: If you stop by during daylight, you can bet the tables at this small strip mall shop, which opened in 2015, will be full of kids from the nearby high school and elementary schools. When you consider this, the bags of Flamin' Hot Cheetos at the bottom of the doughnut display case make a lot more sense. Sweet Retreat makes basic doughnut flavors, but it's 'also filling split yeast-raised glazed doughnuts with fresh strawberries or ice cream or both. They also have doughnuts topped with candy and Oreo cookie crumbs.
Must-order doughnut: The green tea doughnut ($1.15). It's a yeast-rasied doughnut with a green tea-infused glaze that balances the sweetness of all that sugar perfectly.
Coffee: In addition to cold and hot coffee (by Gaviña) drinks, you can order Vietnamese coffee, smoothies, milk tea and slushees.
924 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach, (562) 612-0506, sweet-retreat-donuts.cafe-inspector.com.
The shop: Longtime friends and business partners Kenneth "Cat Daddy" Pogson and Tres Shannon opened the first Voodoo Doughnut in Portland, Ore., in 2003, and now have locations in Colorado, Texas and California. They opened their only California shop at Universal City Walk in March. The shop is known for its creatively topped doughnuts, tongue-and-cheek names (the Ain't That a Peach doughnut is a peach fritter with cream cheese frosting and sprinkles) and long lines that often stretch well past the entrance. Be warned that if you park at Universal City Walk your $3-something doughnut will cost an additional $25 for parking.
Must-try doughnut: The Voodoo doll doughnut ($3.20). It's a raised yeast doughnut shaped and decorated to look like a voodoo doll. Sure, it's a gimmick. It's also a really good doughnut, filled with raspberry jelly and topped with chocolate frosting. The doughnut gets a pretzel stake in the middle to emphasize the fact that you're eating a voodoo doll. It also adds a nice salty crunch to all that sugar.
Coffee: The shop is pouring Stumptown Coffee and cold brew on tap.
100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, (818) 622-6646, www.voodoodoughnut.com.


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SOME GOOD BOOKS I READ IN 2010
I wish all visitors to this site a very happy 2011.
2010 has been a worrying year for anyone living in Ireland, as I do. While Ireland is still, by any historical or comparative standard, a wealthy country, its confidence has been shaken.
Many individuals face catastrophic debt situations. Others are comfortably off, with savings, assets and falling living costs, but they worry about possible knock on effects on their savings of the vulnerable financial situation of the banks and of the Government .
In this, my first posting of 2011, I am not going to talk about the economy at all, but about some good books I read during 2010,
"The Force of Destiny" by Christopher Duggan (Penguin) is a history of Italy since 1796. When Italy was united in the mid 19th century, its new rulers tended to divorce the claims of the nation, as a sort of abstract ideal, from the claims of the actual people who lived in Italy. Provincial privileges were lost and the Italian state did not win the full loyalty of all the people for many years. This contributed to the growth of aggressive nationalism as a means of mobilizing support (imperialist adventures in Libya and Ethiopia) .
A prominent Italian nationalist wrote in 1911 "War, and war alone, arouses the highest the highest moral virtues" , a delusion unfortunately shared by some Irish nationalists of the same era. One eighth of the Libyan population died during the Italian war of conquest.
But the opposition of the Catholic church , because the unification of Italy meant the end of the Papal States, created a very different relationship between Catholicism and Italian nationalism to its relationship with Irish nationalism. The Pope declined to back the Italian war effort in 1917, condemning the useless slaughter.
I visited China in 2010, and while there I read "The Crippled Tree" by Han Suyin (Panther books). This is an autobiography of a Belgian/ Chinese woman who lived through the revolutionary times in China in the first half of the twentieth century. It shows how desperate times were then and explains how the Chinese came to be so very suspicious of foreign intervention in their country.
Foremost among the books I enjoyed last year was David McCullagh's "The Reluctant Taoiseach",(Gill and Macmillan) a masterly biography of John A Costello. Costello had two parallel careers, one as politician and the other as a barrister. In 1948,he won the trust of a very diverse coalition of parties and pioneered inter party Government in Ireland, something that flows healthily from our good proportional electoral system.
I read "Inside the Kingdom" by Robert Lacey,( Arrow Books) in preparation for a recent visit to Saudi Arabia. It shows how the religious fundamentalist trend in that country is a consequence of compromises made by the monarchy to get support to overcome the occupation of the Grand Mosque in Mecca in 1979. The current King is easing this somewhat. The physical development of Saudi Arabia today is remarkable, as is the sophistication of of many of its prominent administrators and business people
I was intrigued by the title of "Power, Where is it?" by Donald J Savoie ( McGill University Press). He shows that, in Canada at least, media generated popular distrust of elected politicians has led to a lot of power in modern societies being hived off to expert bodies of all kinds, which are far less accountable to the people than politicians are. This artificial diffusion of power has not improved democracy at all.
The multi level systems of administration that are inherent in Federal systems of Government of the king found in Canada, Northern Ireland, and even the European Union, separate power from responsibility. This sometimes makes it impossible to identify who ,if anyone , bears responsibility for a decision.
Freedom of Information legislation may produce mounds of paper, but if it means that people try to avoid its requirements by taking important decisions in oral conversation, rather than on paper, then it defeats its own purpose.
There are so many safeguards, impact assessments, and consultation requirements built into the formal decision making procedures of many Governments, that the only way to get anything done quickly is to find a way to by pass them.
One person who has a unique capacity to cut through the procedures is the Prime Minister ,because he controls the Cabinet agenda, and can use it to fast track urgent decisions that would otherwise be bogged down by consultations . In modern systems, the Prime Minister is increasingly being called upon to do just this. So the ironic result is that consultation procedures designed to spread power around, have led to its being concentrated even more than before.
Are Two Days Meetings, Once a Quarter, Enough to Run Europe?
Political Reform in Ireland…..Would it prevent a repetition of past errors?


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text:
In mathematics, a Størmer number or arc-cotangent irreducible number is a positive integer  for which the greatest prime factor of  is greater than or equal to . They are named after Carl Størmer.

Sequence
The first few Størmer numbers are:

Density
John Todd proved that this sequence is neither finite nor cofinite.

More precisely, the natural density of the Størmer numbers lies between 0.5324 and 0.905.
It has been conjectured that their natural density is the natural logarithm of 2, approximately 0.693, but this remains unproven.
Because the Størmer numbers have positive density, the Størmer numbers form a large set.

Application
The Størmer numbers arise in connection with the problem of representing the Gregory numbers (arctangents of rational numbers)   as sums of Gregory numbers for integers (arctangents of unit fractions). The Gregory number  may be decomposed by repeatedly multiplying the Gaussian integer  by numbers of the form , in order to cancel prime factors  from the imaginary part; here  is chosen to be a Størmer number such that  is divisible by .

References

Integer sequences

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Wednesday 5 December will be a Sports night.
Dress of the night is Appropriate Civilian Dress.
Any Cadets who helped with the previous Range night is asked to meet at the armouries for 1730hrs (5:30 PM).
* Cadets who plan to attend the Christmas dinner must sign the sheet on the white board at the Armouries by December 5th to confirm their attendance. Once attendance has been confirmed, a meal will be ordered for those who have confirmed. The Squadron is paying for the price of this dinner; however, If a cadet confirms they are attending and does not show up, they must pay $12.00 to cover the cost of the missed meal.
Do not sign up if you cannot attend this dinner!